Resuming into the fourth spot of the 2021 Chicago YIMBY’s year-end countdown is 1000 S Michigan Avenue otherwise known as 1000M in the South Loop. Topping out at a revised 805 feet tall, the tower is designed by prolific architect Helmut Jahn whose work includes the Thompson Center and passed away earlier this year in the suburbs. Developers Time Equities and JK Equities partnered on the skyscraper which recently secured financing to resume construction after stopping work early in the pandemic.
1000M site. Photo by Jack Crawford
1000M site. Photo by Jack Crawford
Updated Renderings for 1000M. Renderings by JAHN
The 73-story structure was originally meant to rise an extra 200 feet with a stacked box design, but was highly argued by neighborhood committees due to its placement on the historic Michigan Avenue streetwall. It was then revised to 831 feet tall with a curved glass exterior cantilevering over the adjoining building south, reducing the total amount of condos as well. With sales not meeting the original predictions, in 2019 the tower introduced smaller European-inspired units dubbed the ‘International Collection’ with a similar fate.
1000M (blue). Model by Jack Crawford
1000M (blue). Model by Jack Crawford
1000M (blue). Model by Jack Crawford
Previous (left) and Proposed (right) Version of East Elevation for 1000M. Drawings by JAHN
The tower broke ground and began its caisson and foundation work in late 2019, however construction was halted in early 2020. Behind the scenes, developers were revising plans for the tower. After a quick plan approval this summer, work was able to resume this fall with a variety of design changes and a new $304.5 million construction loan from Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank.
1000M site. Photo by Jack Crawford
1000M site. Photo by Jack Crawford
Ground Floor Plan for 1000M. Drawing by JAHN
Revised plans for the skyscraper include changing the original 506 condominiums to 738 rental apartments, along with the removal of a floor, 26-foot height cut, decreased number of vehicle parking spaces from 440 to 320, and revision to the crown design and structure. The units will be split into four tiers of design as the tower rises ranging in size, and split by various amenity floors offering future residents nearly 75,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space to use.
1000M site. Photo by Jack Crawford
Typical Floor Plan for Tier C and D Apartments at 1000M. Drawing by JAHN
The units will be split into 50 percent studios, 27 percent one-bedroom, 19 percent two-bedroom, and 4.5 percent three-bedroom layouts, with penthouses spanning over 3,000 square feet. Of those, 23 will be on-site affordable options with 11 studios, six one-bedrooms, five two-bedrooms, and one three-bedroom for those making up to 60 percent of the Area Median Income.
1000M site in October 2021. Photo by Jack Crawford
1000M (blue). Model by Jack Crawford
1000M (blue). Model by Jack Crawford
1000M (blue). Model by Jack Crawford
With a prime location across Grant Park and unparalleled views of the city, the development is expected to capitalize on the boom of the rental market currently seen in Chicago. Most recently the project received permits for its superstructure on December 21st, and if all goes according to plan McHugh Construction hopes to complete the tower in 36 months with deliveries expected in 2024.
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Good looking building overall, that’s still a crazy amount of car parking for being surrounded by every transit option in the city. This continues a slow drip of killing adequate ridership for the CTA. It’s not an exaggeration, this is part of how a transit system dies.
As a former mid-westerner now living in NYC I think the issue is transit beyond the city. On the East Coast the rail system takes you all the way to Boston to the North and DC to the South with many stops. There is also rail in neighboring NJ and CT. That’s not the case for Chicago, where the rail system doesn’t go far beyond suburban Chicago. Yes there is Amtrak, but the options are very, very limited, thus you still need a car.
Was honestly hoping this uninspired, ungainly tower would get scrapped and a better design would replace it.
To be frank, the quality of architecture in this countdown has been straight up depressing. Here’s to hoping the next few years bring higher quality developments. Or maybe I move to NY.
Goodbye, dear. Enjoy New York. Had you been truly objective, you’d no doubt realize that even NYC is suffering from the same horrid fate. Their most recent spate of ultra-expensive highrise buildings in the ‘Billionaires Row’ area are glaring, putrid examples of this. But hey, if you want to pay for overpriced trash, have at it. At least in Chicago, it’s affordably priced for the well heeled.
I need to get over it, but it drives me nuts that this is called 1000m but it was reduced in height from 1000 ft to 800.